Chef’s Life Turns Dark After Reunion with Biological Mother

March 27, 2025 – LONDON, UK – The Netflix documentary “Con Mum” unravels a shocking tale of betrayal involving Graham Hornigold, a celebrated British pastry chef, who found himself entangled in an emotional and financial scam orchestrated by a woman claiming to be his long-lost mother, Dionne.

In 2020, Hornigold was at the pinnacle of his culinary career and preparing for fatherhood when he received an unexpected email from Dionne. She recounted details about his birth and claimed he had been taken from her at birth. The email ignited a deep curiosity within him, leading him to respond with questions she answered convincingly.

Shortly after, Graham and his partner, Heather Kaniuk, traveled to Liverpool to meet Dionne, resulting in what appeared to be a heartwarming reunion. The meeting was recorded, capturing the initial emotional connection between mother and son. However, as their relationship progressed, disturbing aspects of Dionne’s personality began to surface.

Dionne claimed she was terminally ill and only had months to live while also purportedly being a wealthy heiress. “If I die soon… you are a multi-millionaire. That’s all I can tell you,” Dionne stated during a phone call with Graham. Despite the claims, none of her alleged wealth materialized, and instead, Hornigold began to fund her lavish lifestyle.

As the weeks turned into months, Dionne encouraged Graham to travel to Switzerland to finalize arrangements for his supposed inheritance. However, instead of prompt action on these plans, more and more excuses piled up, and Graham found himself buried in debt, believing his mother’s lies. By the time the truth emerged, he had accrued approximately £300,000 in expenses.

It was Kaniuk who first sensed troubles brewing as Dionne’s behavior grew increasingly manipulative, including attempts to undermine the relationship between Graham and Heather. The facade came crashing down when Hornigold discovered a bottle of red dye, revealing Dionne had been faking her illness.

“The woman I so desperately wanted to find turned out to be a seasoned con artist,” Graham explains in the documentary, reflecting on the emotional and financial turmoil the experience caused. In the end, the deception severely impacted Graham’s relationship with Heather, ultimately leading to their separation.

Despite the con artist’s unmasking, Graham received a call from Dionne over a year later, during which she professed her love for him and apologized for her actions. This interaction, however, provided no solace, as Graham had already lost both money and the stability of family life he had once enjoyed.

Dionne, who has used various aliases over the years including Dionne Marie Hannah and Theresa Haton Mahmud, declined to comment for the documentary and has yet to face any criminal charges related to her actions. In the eyes of authorities, her relationship with Graham, the alleged victim, raised legal complexities that limited potential prosecution options.

The documentary serves as a powerful reminder of how emotional manipulation can be just as damaging as financial deception. Hornigold’s story exposes the vulnerabilities that arise from the deep desire for familial connection, ultimately resulting in heartbreak and significant loss.